As good of weather and conditions as we had last fall, the start of the winter season was miserable for hunting crows. Two snowstorms inside a week left a couple feet on the ground. Coupled with 30-40 mph winds and we couldn't get anywhere. It got pretty cold too, we had four days in a row when it didn't get above zero. Then a couple weeks later we had temperatures that held steady in the 30's. The snow was gone in a week and we had mud. Couldn't get anywhere then either.
Desperate for some shooting, we got 18 the morning of 20 Jan. It was clear and cold. 15 below and a light NW wind.
Six days later we waded through sloppy melting snow and mud for a morning hunt. It was foggy and mid 30's. The crows cooperated and came in nice. We quit a little after 10:00 with 47 down.
By the 1st of Feb. the frost was going out, but it was still muddy. We found a spot that we figured would be an all day hunt. The shooting was steady until shortly after noon. A lot of times, if we don't have far to walk, we take a drive and get something to eat before the afternoon flight starts. Not his day. Mudding in and out once was enough. I wasn't doing it more than necessary. Things picked up a little before three and we had some fast action the last hour. Ended the day with 212.
My partner got a piebald with a couple white wing feathers.
The next day we got 64. Thought we had 'em but the afternoon flight beat us. Watching educated crows fly over for a couple of hours and ignore the call is frustrating.
The weather turned unseasonably nice, but we had insignificant hunts for the remainder of the month. Nice weather brings out anyone with a call and the crows acted like it. Our "golf course hunt" didn't happen this season. Just as the things were getting right and I inquired about it, they were readying to open. Unheard of in Feb. The numbers around here were thinning in a hurry by the last week of Feb. We've had some decent shoots in March, but it's not looking like it at this point.
Several seasons ago Big Honkers posted an excellent photo that he titled, "Trail of Tears". My version is below. It was taken during our 1 Feb. hunt. The last two were taken on 14 Jan. Just after our first snowfall of the year. It was pretty cold that day.
